Sound-direction indicator



W. S. HOGG.

SOUND DIRECTION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. l 4| 1919.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. S. HOGG.

SOUND DIRECTION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14. I919.

1,354,299, PatentedSept. 28,1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

y E] wue n-toz UNITE STATES PATENT QFFHCE.

SOUND-DIRECTION INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

"iijiineation filed March 14, 1919. Serial No. 282,651.

To all whom it may Be it known that WILLIAM SrE'rsoN Hose, a citizen of.th nitedStates, residing at Zashingto u in hPDistrict of Columbia, haveinvented certainnew and useful Improvements ii -gound-lpirectionIndicators; and I hereb that the following is a full, clearj-andiexactdescription thereof, reference bein" J adto the accompanying drawings,whiclrjfQr-m part of this specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for ascertaining the source,character and direction of sounds transmitted through air, earth orwater.

Its object is to provide a simple and eifii-ient apparatus fordetermining the direction of submarines, submarine bells or fogwhistles. It is a means of so ascertaining, that is independent of thestrength of sound received in either ear.

The apparatus in its simplest form com-- properly proportioned, but thedrawings only show embodiments of the invention, the principles ofwhich, when onceunderstood, can be varied in many mechanical forms,while retaining the essentials of the invention, and I refer to theclaims following the description for summaries of the essentials of theinvention and certain novel features of construction and arrangement ofparts for all of which protection is desired.

Figure 1 represents the simplest mechanical form of the apparatus thatcan be held in the hand.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 illustrating the electrical connectionsand parts diagrammatically, and also indicating in dotted lines one ofthe adjustments of th tuning member.

. Figs. 3 and 4 are views illustrating one method of mounting theinstrument on hoard ship, using the handle as a support.

In this form the handle acts as a material communication of soundvibrations and the receptive element to reinforce the sound va riations.

The first essential element of the invention, the sound wave receiver,to be used in the air, may be shaped like a horn, a shallow box orparabolic reflector. There are many other shapes and the only essentialis that they should be thin and of resonant material and capable ofbeing vibrated upon the impact of sound waves.

I will hereinafter refer to this element of whatever shape, as the soundwave receiver, even though it may act as a resonator for more than onetone, when the reception is through the handle or support.

The horn sound wave receiver shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is of thin brass,with the ends open. The bell mouth is directed toward the source ofsound and naturally has a maximum vibration when so directed. It isprovided with a handle 2, attached to the small end, and at right anglesto the longitudinal axis of the horn. I found that when it was so placedit received the maximum vibrations of the horn imparted to it, and viceversa when it received vibrations, so placed, the maximum strength wasboth imparted to the horn and tuning element. However, this fact wasnoted by Savart the French physicist in his experiments on vibrations.It is important, as it shows the method of indicating the direction ofsound when communicated through the handlein communication, (material)with a ships side or the ground, the tuning element be ing always atright angles to the source, when the strength of sound is a maximum, thesystem being tuned to resonance, with sound amplifying devices ormicrophones situated at loops, or points of maximum rythmic agitation ofthe carbon granules.

Connected with the sound wave receiver is a tuning element 3, ofresonant material, wood or metal. It may be a rod or tube, the law oflongitudinal waves holding in both cases. In either case the diametershould be small, about 1} inch for a tube, or less for a rod. If tunedto the fundamental of a horn, the lengths of metal rods areinconveniently long and mechanical arrangements of loops, circles,spirals and the likeare necessary. I have found a brass vibrations persecond. bra.

dimensions given inches iong, .,.ve the same tone.

high resistance microphones in multiple.

They can be attached to the arms of a cross piece and movable along thetube or can be inserted in a cylindrical block of wood,

movable along the tube.

The carbon granules, held in minute double cone cavities, with largeends abutting, are thefinest possible, without being dust. Contact ismade with solderwplugs for the electric connections, and about 5 voltsis necessary to put in microphonic action, 6 microphones.

' To adjust the tuning element, it is clamped at its center with theclamp 5, and the microphones are moved in and out toward the center. Ifon both arms, as they are in phase, the effect is doubled.

The adjustment of the microphones to the fundamental of the horn issimple, both practically and theoretically, as the sound is loudest whenthe microphones are at a loop or point of maximum rhythmic agitation ofthe carbon particles, as the agitation changes the carbon pressure, andthe timbre of the soundis brought out distinctly, so

that the nature of the sound can be ascer-' tained, and if a vesselwhether surface vessel or submarine.

The receptivity of the instrument can be increased by supporting thesound wave receiver by means of the handle upon the ships rail, or upona heavy maple sounding board inside the hull'beneath the water line, theboard being secured to. the frames at right angles. .This method is notshown in the drawings. In the case shown in Figs. 3 and 4f, thereceptive device is shown as mounted on a support 6, pivoted upon astandard 7, journaled in a socket member 8, secured to the ships rail.In either case to lessen vibration, a sound insulating material such asfelt 9, should be placed in the socket around the shoulder.

The use of the instrument is simple; move it in arc horizontally, andwhen the sound is at maximum, the horn is pointing toward the source.

In a com lete working apparatus the sound ampliging members should beconnected in series in an electrical circuit inciuding suitable sourceof electricity s h a battery suitable telephone r en 1: be of desiredhind; an audion i, which may he of any suit--- able kind or constructionadapted to arm the sound in the well kni'rwn manner. The battery,telephone receiver, and audion, are merely conventionally indicated inFig. 2 of the drawings, as particular construotion of any of these partsdoes not form a feature of the present invention; andsuch devicesalready well known in the arts can be used in connection with the sounddetector.

The drawings only conventionally show embodiments of the invention (theprinciples of which, when once understood, may be varied in mechanicalform' and dimensions while retaining the essentials of the invention)and I refer to the following claims for summaries of the essentials ofthe invention, and of certain novel features of construc- .tion andarrangements of parts, for all of which protection is desired.

What I claim is: -1. In sound detecting apparatus of thecharacter-specified, a sound wave receiver, a

tuning element connected therewith, and a sound amplifier connected withthe tuning element.

2. In sound detecting apparatus of the character specified, a sound wavereceiver, a tuning element connected therewith and a sound amplifierconnected with the tuning element, said amplifier being adjustablerelatively to the sound wave receiver.

3. Sound detecting apparatus of the character specified, comprising asound wave receiver, a tuning element adjustably connected therewith,and a sound amplifier connected with the tuning element and adjustablerelatively to the sound wave receiver.

4. In apparatus of the character specified, a sound wave receiver; anadjustable resonant tuning element mounted on the sound wave receiver atright angles thereto; and a microphone connected with the tuningelement.

5. In apparatus of the character specified, a sound wave receiver; anadjustable resonant tuning element mounted on the sound wave receiver atright angles thereto; and a support at right angles to both.

6. vibrational sound system, consisting of a sound wave receiver, ahandle or support attached thereto at right angles, a tuning elementconnected therewith at right angles to both the sound wave receiver andhandle; and a microphone attached to said tunin element.

I n a sound detecting apparatus of the character specified, a sound wavereceiver, a tuning element connected therewith, a sound amplifierconnected with the tuning element, a telephone receiver, an electricsupply; and connections between the amplifier the electric supply andthe telephone recelver. v

8. In a sound detecting apparatus of the character specified; a soundwave receiver, a tuning element connected therewith, a sound amplifierconnected with the tuning element and adjustable relatively to the soundwave receiver, a telephone receiver, an electrical supply; andelectrical connections between the sound amplifier the electrical supplyand the telephone receiver.

9. In a sound detecting apparatus of the character specified; a soundwave receiver; a tuning element connected therewith; a sound amplifierconnected with the tuning element and adjustable relatively .to thesound wave receiver; a telephonic receiver;

an audion; an electrical supply; and electrical connections between thesound amplifier, the electrical supply, the audion and the telephonereceiver.

10. In apparatus of the character specified; a sound wave receiver; anadjustable tuning element connected therewith at right angles thereto; amicrophone connected with the tuning element; an electric supply; atelephone receiver; and electrical connections between the microphone,the supply, and the telephone receiver.

11. In combination a sound wave receiver; a variable resonant soundtuning element connected therewith at right angles thereto; microphoneson said tuning element; an electric supply; an audion; a telephonereceiver; and electrical connection between the microphones, the supply,the audion and the telephone receiver.

12. In apparatus of the character specified, a sound wave receiver; anadjustable resonant tuning element at right an les thereto, a support atright angles to bot a microphone connected with the tuning element, anelectric supply, a telephone receiver; and electrical connectionsbetween the microphone, the supply, and the telephone receiver.- j

13. A. vibrationalsound system,- x nsisting of a sound wave receiver; ahandle or support therefor; a tuning element connected therewith atright angles to the sound wave receiver; microphones attached to saidtuning element; an electrical supply; a telephone receiver; 'a soundamplifier and electrical connections including in circuit the electricalsupply, the sound amplifier, microphones and telephone receiver.

14. In combination, a sound wave receiver, a tuning element connected tosaid receiver at a point of maximum vibration of the material and atright angles to the axis of said sound wave receiver, a support at rightangles to both, and microphones adjustably mounted on said tuningelement.

15. A vibrational sound detecting apparatus consisting of a sound wavereceiver which acts automatically as a resonator of several frequencies,a handle or support attached thereto at right angles to the axis of. thereceiver, a tuning element connecte therewith at a-point of maximumvibration of the material of the receiver and at right angles to boththe receiver and the handle, and a microphone attached to the said tuninelement; together with an electric circuit consisting of batteries andteleplione receiver in circuit with the microphone.

16. A vibrational sound detecting apparatus consisting of a sound wavereceiver, a tuning element at right angles to the axis of the receiver,and variable by movement laterally through a point of support which is apoint of maximum vibration of the material of the receiver, and a handleat right angles to the tuning element; a telephone receiver, amicrophone connected .with the tuning element, an audion, an electricalsupply, and electrical connections between the supply, the audion, themicrophone and the receiver, substantially as described.

17. In apparatus of the character specified, a sound wave receiver, aresonant tuning element at right angles to the longitudinal axis f,mounted on the receiver and ad'ustable 1n len h, and microphones movableon or attached tothe tuning element.

18. In apparatus of the character specified, a sound wave receiver, anadjustable tuning element attached to or movable at right anglesthereto, a microphone in material communication with the tuning elementand in circuit with an electric supply and telephone receiver, withelectrical connection between the microphone, the supply and telephonereceiver.

In testimony that-I claim the foregoing as my own, I aflix 11% sinature.

LfIAM'S. HOGG.

